Study abroad program
We offer incoming exchange and study abroad programs at our City, Melbourne (Bundoora) and Bendigo campuses.
What's the difference?
Incoming exchange
To do an incoming exchange program, your home university must be one of our partner institutions. You could be eligible to study at La Trobe for one or two semesters through your home university's exchange program.
You won’t need to pay fees to La Trobe, but you'll need to keep paying fees to your home institution.
Study abroad
A study abroad program allows you to study at La Trobe for one or two semesters if you meet entry requirements, regardless of whether your home institution is one of our exchange partners.
You’ll need to defer your studies in your home country while you study in Australia and pay tuition fees to La Trobe.
If you’re completing a degree in your home country, you could still come to La Trobe University as part of our study abroad and incoming exchange program. You can study with us for up to two semesters while gaining credit towards your home degree.
How to apply
Here’s what you need to do to study abroad or do an incoming exchange at La Trobe.
To be eligible for study abroad or incoming exchange, you’ll need to meet English requirements and academic requirements.
As a general guide, La Trobe requires a C average for entry into study abroad and exchange programs (GPA 2.5). Individual subjects may have their own prerequisites which you’ll also need to meet.
If you're currently completing your last year of secondary school, or have graduated but haven't yet enrolled in university, the requirements are a bit different. For the undergraduate degree you select from your study abroad program, you'll need to meet the minimum academic requirements and you'll only be able to study first-year subjects or subjects with no prerequisites.
You can enrol in either three or four subjects per semester. If your home university requires you to do more than a full-time study load to keep up with your degree, we can arrange permission for you to overload to a maximum of five subjects (75 credit points) per semester. We do not recommend an increased study load and, if approved, additional fees could apply.
When choosing subjects, it’s important that you
- check that the subject is available for study abroad and incoming exchange students
- make sure you meet any specific prerequisite requirements for the subject
- confirm that the subject is offered during the semester you intend to study
- check that the subject is offered at the same campus as your other subject choices
- confirm that your home university approves of your subject preferences before you apply
- only enrol in no more than one online subject due to student visa regulations – blended subjects are not counted as online subjects.
To browse available subjects, search La Trobe’s online University Handbook.
Apply online
- Make sure your home university has nominated you for the incoming exchange program and notified La Trobe of your nomination.
- Be sure you've chosen your preferred subjects for pre-approval (ideally six to eight per semester).
- Access the International Online Application System and register for a username and password.
- Complete your application and attach the following supporting documents:
- a nomination confirmation from your home university
- an official transcript from your home university – you will also need to provide an English translation if your transcript is not in English
- a list of any subjects you’re currently completing that aren’t listed on your transcript
- evidence of your English proficiency, if you’re from a non-English speaking country – see our language requirements page for our list of accepted countries where English is the primary language of instruction
- a copy of your passport ID page – your passport must be valid until at least six months after your semester in Australia ends.
Due to citizenship restrictions, some applicants are unable to lodge their application online. If you register for a username and password and receive a notification that you are unable to lodge your application online, please email the Study Abroad team for an application form.
Apply online
- Contact our Study Abroad team for instructions on how to fill out your application.
- Make sure you've chosen your preferred subjects for pre-approval (ideally six to eight per semester).
- Access the International Online Application System and register for a username and password.
- Complete your application and attach the following supporting documents:
- an official transcript from your home university – you will also need to provide an English translation if your transcript is not in English
- a list of any subjects you are currently completing that aren’t listed on your transcript
- evidence of your English proficiency, if you’re from a non-English speaking country –see our language requirements page for our list of accepted countries where English is the primary language of instruction
- a copy of your passport ID page – your passport must be valid until at least six months after your semester in Australia ends.
Due to citizenship restrictions, some applicants are unable to lodge their application online. If you register for a username and password and receive a notification that you are unable to lodge your application online, please email our Study Abroad team for an application form.
Apply through an agent
- Make sure you’ve chosen your preferred subjects for pre-approval (ideally six to eight per semester).
- Find a La Trobe agent in your country using our online agent finder tool.
- Contact your agent for instructions on how to apply.
- Follow your agent’s instructions to complete your application and submit all necessary documents. They will review your application and send it to us on your behalf.
Once you’ve applied, we'll review your application to make sure you meet all requirements.
If your application is successful, we will send you
- a letter of offer
- an offer acceptance form
- an Acceptance and Pre-departure Guide
- a learning agreement form.
To accept your offer, you will need to
- Meet any conditions specified in your letter of offer
- Complete your offer acceptance form and learning agreement, and return them to your agent or a La Trobe Abroad Coordinator. Note: This needs to be signed by your home university coordinator and include four selected subjects for enrolment. You must choose from the approved subjects on your letter of offer.
- Pay the required deposit for Overseas Health Cover and course fees as set out in your letter of offer.
Once you’ve accepted your offer, we’ll issue your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which you’ll need for your student visa application. Please accept your offer as early as possible, as it may take three to four weeks for your CoE to be issued.
Once you’ve accepted your offer, it’s time for you to prepare for your Australian adventure.
If you want to live on campus while you’re studying at La Trobe, you’ll need to apply for on-campus accommodation. We recommend you apply as soon as you accept your study program offer.
Visit our acceptance and pre-departure pages for information about pre-departure briefings, welcome groups and arrival instructions.
What are the cost involved?
As an incoming exchange student, you don’t need to pay tuition fees to La Trobe – you’ll simply continue paying fees to your home university.
As a study abroad student, you’ll need to pay tuition fees to La Trobe. The 2024 tuition fees per semester for the study abroad program are:
- Four subjects (60 credit points) per semester: A$10,400
- Three subjects (45 credit points) per semester: A$7,800
Tuition fees are based on a full-time study load and are subject to change annually.
If your home university requires you to enrol in five subjects (75 credit points) per semester, La Trobe will need to approve your increased study load and additional fees will apply.
Along with any tuition fees, you’ll also need to consider the cost of living in Australia and Overseas Student Health Cover fees.
Due to government regulations, students studying in Australia for one semester must have OSHC coverage for a minimum cover period of seven months (or 14 months for students staying for two semesters).
You may be able to seek a refund for any unspent time just prior to your departure from Australia.
Returning home
Once you have completed your studies with us, we want to ensure a smooth transition back to your regular studies back home. That's why you should consider the following:
Our supplementary or special exams are usually held after the regular semester ends. This means they could be held after your Australian student visa expires, because the duration of your visa is linked to the regular length of your course.
If this is the case, you won’t be able to take a supplementary or special exam for any failed subjects. Find the dates of our examination periods on our exams and results page.
Did you arrange your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) through La Trobe University? If you’re a study abroad or exchange student and you haven’t made a claim on your OSHC, you’re entitled to a refund for the remaining duration of your coverage once you return home. You’ll be contacted closer to the end of the semester with instructions.
Make sure you pay all your debts before you leave, including accommodation costs, any library penalties and all other debts. Any outstanding debts you owe La Trobe will result in a sanction being placed on your La Trobe student account. This means your transcript will also be put on hold, which will delay your ability to transfer your credits at your home university. Find out more about fee sanctions and how they could affect you.
Once your results have been released, your transcript will be issued through the My eQuals secure platform. You can also download an unofficial copy of your grades from StudentOnLine that will be active for another three months after you complete your program.
Have a question? We can help
If you have a question about how the programs work or how to apply, our friendly team is here to help.